Buoy-inflated swimming paddle



Dec. 9, 1930. M. F. ENKE BUOY INFLATED S'InING PADDLE Filed May 22. 1923E I fiver-175; M 1 a Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES MARTIN r. ENKE,or onnmmcumomm' BUOY-INFVLATED swimsuits :ennnw. Y

Application filed May 22,

This invention relates to a swimming device and has for its particularobject, to so construct a device to aid swimming and keeping the bodyafloat, being attachable one to either hand.

My invention consists primarily of a circular inflated tube covered withan outer fabric casing, and having arched disks upon either side of theoutside casing which are locked in the center by a locking pin whichengages a slot in one of the disks.

A further object of my' invention consists in providing means for an aircushion to be used on concrete and wooden benches; also as a life savingdevice when a person is in deep water, light in weight, easily applied,and may be successfully used by anyone unfamiliar with mechanicaldevices; that may be cheaply made and can be used over relatively longperiods without alteration or repairs.

With these and incidental objects in view the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and apreferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of i an inflated swimming paddleillustrating my new and improved device. a

Fig. 2 is a side view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection indicated.

To illustrate the detailed construction of the device Fig. 3 is a sideelevation partially in section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of inner rubber tube taken on line 22 of Fig.1 looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking pin element shown detachedfrom the remainder of the device.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional vertical elevation taken on line 22 ofFig. 1.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to Fig. 1 the numeral 1 desig- 1928. Serial Kb. 279,323?

nates the outside casing of twojcircular. pieces "of :fabric securedtogether on outer edge. 2

and 10 are the disks being. similar in shape and size which "areplacedc'entrally thereof sothat locking pinAholds"the disks in placewhen the inner tube is inflated.

I preferably form my device of a circular unit 44 having an outer fabriccasing 1 and inner rubber tube 11 with a tubular rubber stem 6 attachedto tube 11, the rubber tube 11 being inserted through'the slot 12 in thecasing 1 and opening 14in outer casing for passing the stem 6 through tooutside of casing for inflating tube 11 when the disks2 and 10 centrallyplaced on both sides of outer C casing 1 and the locking pin 4 areinserted through the disks 2 and 10, disk 10 having a slot 9 to engageone end of locking pin 4 and partly turned thereon to lock and holdrigidly disks 2 and 10, when tube 11 is inflated and stem 6 doubledthrough loop 5 retaining air in tube 11 when inflated.

A flexible strap 3 is provided for engage-v ment of the hand secured byrivets 7 and 8 to the edge of disk 2, eyelet-holes 13 being placed onside of slot 12 in fabric casing 1 for lacing after inserting tube 11through slot 12. 7

While the form of mechanism 7 herein. shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the object primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine-the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as it is, susceptible ofembodiment in various forms, all coming Within the scope of the claimswhich follow:

What I claim is 1. The combination of a circular inflated device to beplaced on the hand to aid in swimming and floating, said device havingfor itsbody an outer casing of fabric, a slot in the center to insert aninner tube of rubber to be inflated substantially as set forth.

'2. In a device of the class described the combination of a fabricelement adapted to receive an inner rubber tube, a disk secured on eachside of element by a locking pin with an offset on one end to engage aslot in one disk and turned to hold rigidly the two disks when the tubeis inflated.

3. All in combination a circular inflated device having disks connectedthereto, a flexible strap connected to disks to engage and hold to thehand substantially as described.

4. A swimming appliance comprising an annular inflated member, andattaching means for securing said member to the hand of a user, saidattaching means being adapted to secure said member With its centersubstantially on a longitudinal center line of the hand.

5'. A swimming appliance comprising an annular inflated member formed ofa pair of flat circular pieces of flexible material secured together attheir peripheries and at their centers and an attaching means forsecuring said member to the hand'of a user.

' MARTIN F. ENKE.

